AEM offers WebDAV support that lets you display and edit repository content. Connecting via WebDAV gives you direct access to the content repository through your desktop. Text and PDF files that are added to the repository through the WebDAV connection are automatically full-text indexed and can be searched with the standard search interfaces and through the standard Java APIs.

This URL, when connected from the operating system level, provides WebDAV access to the default workspace (crx.default). While being simpler for the user, it does not give them the additional flexibility of specifying workspace names, which can be accomplished using additional WebDAV URLs.

AEM displays the repository content as follows:

A node of the type nt:folder is displayed as a folder. Nodes below the nt:folder node are displayed as the folder content.

A node of the type nt:file is displayed as a file. Nodes below the nt:file node are not displayed, but form the content of the file.

When you use WebDAV to create and edit folders and files, AEM creates and edits the necessary nt:folder and nt:file nodes. If you plan to use WebDAV to import and export content, try to work with nt:file and nt:folder node types as much as possible.

By changing the workspace element in the path, you can map workspaces other than the default (crx.default). For example, to map a workspace named staging, use the following URL:

http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/staging

Connecting via WebDAV

As mentioned above, to connect to your repository using the WebDAV protocol, you point your WebDAV client to your repository location. However depending on your OS, the steps involved to connect your client differ and there may be configuration of the OS required.

Instructions on how to connect the following opererating systems are provided:

Windows

To successfully connect a Microsoft Windows 7 (and greater) system to an AEM instance that is not secured with SSL, the option to establish basic authentication over an unsecured network must be explicitly enabled in Windows. This requires a change in the Windows Registry of the WebClient.

Once the registry is updated, then the AEM instance can be mapped as a drive.

Windows 7 and Greater Configuration

To update the registry to allow basic authentication over an unsecured network:

Adobe recommends that you create a Windows user with the same credentials as the repository user, otherwise you may encounter permission conflicts.

Windows 8 Configuration

For Windows 8 you also need to change the registry entry as described for Windows 7 and greater. However, before you can do this, the Desktop Experience must be enabled in order to see the registry entry.

To enable the Desktop Experience, open Server Manager, then Features, then Add Features, then Desktop Experience.

After rebooting the registry entry described for Windows 7 and greater is available. Modify it as described for Windows 7 and greater.

Connecting in Windows

To connect to AEM via WebDAV in a Windows environment:

Open Windows Explorer or File Explorer and click on Computer or This PC.

Click Map network drive to start the wizard.

Enter the mapping details:

Drive: Choose any available letter

Folder: http://localhost:4502

Check Connect using different credentials

Click Finish

Obs!

If AEM is located on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.

Enter username admin and password admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.

The wizard closes and the newly-mapped drive is opened in a Windows Explorer or File Explorer window.

Windows has now mapped AEM as a drive via WebDAV and you can use it as any other drive.

macOS

There are no configuration steps required to connect via WebDAV on macOS. You simply need to connect to the WebDAV server.

Navigate to any Finder window and click Go and Connect to Server, or press Command+k.

In the Connect to Server window, enter the AEM location:

http://localhost:4502

Obs!

If AEM is located on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.

When you are prompted for authentication, enter username admin and password admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.

macOS has now connected to AEM via WebDAV and you can use it as any other folder on your Mac.

Linux

Connecting via WebDAV on Linux doesn't require any configuration, but does involve a few steps to make the connection which vary depending on your desktop environment.

GNOME

In the Connect to Server window, select WebDAV (HTTP) in Service Type.

In Server, enter http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/crx.default

Obs!

If AEM is located on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.

In Folder, enter /dav

Enter the username admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.

Leave the port blank and enter any name for your connection.

Click Connect. AEM prompts you for your password.

Enter the password admin and click Connect.

GNOME has now mounted AEM as a volume and you can use it like any other volume.

KDE

Open the Network Folder wizard.

Select WebFolder (webdav) and click Next.

In Name, type a connection name.

In User, enter admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account.

In Server, enter http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/crx.default

Obs!

If AEM is located on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address

In Folder, enter dav

Click Save and Connect.

When prompted for your password, enter the password admin and click Connect.

KDE has now mounted AEM as a volume and you can use it like any other volume.